Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs

Since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005, the Nationals and Cubs have gone 46-46 against each other (including postseason). The teams have also split the 44 games played at Wrigley Field during that period (including postseason).

Since the All-Star break, Washington leads the NL in: runs per game (5.79), on-base percentage (.363), slugging percentage (.476), OPS (.839) and extra base hits (71). The Nationals have also recorded the fewest strikeouts at the plate in the NL (136) post All-Star break.

The Cubs starting pitchers have a 1.86 strikeout to walk ratio in 2018, the second-worst mark in MLB (Chicago White Sox -- 1.54). The last MLB team to make the postseason with a starting pitcher strikeout to walk ratio at or below the Cubs' starting pitcher mark was the 2007 New York Yankees (1.81).

Jeremy Hellickson has reduced his ERA from 5.43 last season to 3.56 in 2018. A portion of this improvement can be attributed to Hellickson's ability to record the first out of the inning; in 2017 opponents had a batting average of .279 off Hellickson with 0 outs, in 2018 they are hitting .178.

Kyle Hendricks has been more effective against left-handed hitters (.214 opponents' batting average) than right-handed hitters (.282 opponents' batting average) in 2018. This .068 difference in opponent batting average between left-handed hitters vs. right-handed hitters is the second highest among right-handed ERA qualified pitchers this season.

Javier Baez is leading the Cubs in home runs (25) and RBI (88). Baez is on pace to become the third Cubs second baseman (based on primary position in season) to lead the team in both categories since 1920 (Ryne Sandberg -- 1990, Rogers Hornsby -- 1931).

CHICAGO -- For a couple of teams that started the season with aspirations of winning their respective division and more, the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals scuffled through the season, fighting inconsistency at every turn.

The Cubs enter Friday's game against the Nationals atop the National League Central despite going just 4-3 in a seven-game stretch against a pair of last-place teams. Chicago is coming off a 9-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals that prevented the Cubs from completing a sweep they hoped to use to build momentum heading into this weekend's three-game series with the Nationals.

Chicago was held to just three hits and will now try to ramp things back up as they attempt to build a cushion in the Central. Manager Joe Maddon doesn't expect that to be easy.

"I don't think you're going to see a lot of space created the rest of the year by anybody," Maddon told reporters after Wednesday's loss, according to the Chicago Tribune. "I think it's going to be like what you're seeing."

For the Cubs, that means surviving what's been a season-long ride of ups and downs. While the Cubs have managed to avoid too many valleys, they have never found a way to put together sustained stretches of success, either.

Despite not playing as well against the Royals and their fellow basement dweller San Diego Padres, who managed to split a four-game series with the Cubs last weekend at Wrigley Field, first baseman Anthony Rizzo said he and his teammates have to move on.

"Do you think we should just dwell on it, especially on this team?" Rizzo said Wednesday, according to the Tribune.

Kyle Hendricks (8-9, 4.07 ERA) will start out the series for Chicago. Hendricks has been better of late and has won his last two starts. He allowed four runs and struck out seven over five innings in his last start against the Padres. Hendricks is 2-2 with a 2.67 in five career starts against the Nationals.

Washington enters Friday's series opener having won seven of its last 10 games. The Nationals used a strong performance from Gio Gonzalez in a 6-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday that earned the Nationals a split in the four-game series.

The Nationals won despite not having Bryce Harper in the lineup. Harper was scratched after being hit in the leg by a pitch on Wednesday. Harper will likely be ready to return Friday and is hitting .339 with five home runs and 17 RBIs since the All-Star break.

"It's pretty swollen still," manager Dave Martinez told reporters Thursday, according to MLB.com. "Rather than him try to play through it, we thought the best option would be to have him come off the bench."

Gonzalez, who had been 0-6 in his last 11 starts since his last victory, took advantage of plenty of run support in Thursday's victory. Now Washington will attempt to keep trending in the right direction against a Cubs team that will be coming off an off-day.

Friday's game will be a bit of a homecoming for Martinez, who worked as Maddon's bench coach in Chicago before taking his first managerial position. Martinez was on the Cubs staff that led Chicago to a World Series title in 2016.

Jeremy Hellickson (5-2, 3.56) will start the series for the Nationals, having won three of his previous five starts. Hellickson allowed a pair of runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings in his last start against the Cincinnati Reds. Hellickson is 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA in two career starts against the Cubs.